Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Cytokine-Induced Cell Death in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Using Human Organoids
10:03

Author Spotlight: Understanding Cytokine-Induced Cell Death in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Using Human Organoids

Published on: August 2, 2024

1.9K

Preferential existence of death-inducing proteins in the human cardiomyopathic left ventricle

Nduna Dzimiri1, Barima Afrane, Charles C Canver

  • 1Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Journal of Surgical Research
|August 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) involves increased death-inducing receptors (DRs) and decreased decoy receptors (DcRs) in heart tissue. These changes suggest a role for apoptotic signaling in the progression of heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant cause of heart failure, mortality, and healthcare costs.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DCM is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of apoptotic signaling genes in human DCM.
  • To determine the role of death receptors (DRs) and decoy receptors (DcRs) in the pathogenesis of DCM.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiac tissue samples were collected from DCM patients and healthy controls.
  • Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantify mRNA expression of DRs and DcRs.
  • Protein expression levels were assessed using densitometry.

Main Results:

  • Elevated mRNA and protein levels of DR1, DR2, DR4, and DR5 were observed in DCM tissues, particularly in the left ventricle and left atrium.
  • Significant decreases in DcR1 and DcR3 expression were found in multiple heart chambers of DCM patients.
  • Trends in mRNA expression changes were consistent with observed protein expression alterations.

Conclusions:

  • The increased expression of death-inducing proteins in the left heart chambers of DCM patients suggests their involvement in the apoptotic pathways contributing to end-stage heart failure.
  • These findings highlight the potential of targeting apoptotic signaling as a therapeutic strategy for DCM.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advantages of Pressure-Volume Loop Measurement Method in Cardiovascular Research04:27

Author Spotlight: Advantages of Pressure-Volume Loop Measurement Method in Cardiovascular Research

Published on: January 12, 2024

863
3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse15:26

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse

Published on: May 19, 2015

14.8K

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen.
9.1K
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.6K
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
10.2K
Role of Proteins in the Human Body01:28

Role of Proteins in the Human Body

Proteins are the building block of life. They are also  the most abundant macromolecules with as many diverse roles in the body. They are part of many structural components that provide unique shapes and structures to animal cells, tissues, and organs. In addition, they also act as biological catalysts and carry out several anabolic and catabolic reactions. Notably, some proteins are chemical messengers and regulate many critical processes, such as metabolism, growth, and development. They...
6.4K
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins02:26

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain.  Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...
14.6K
Protein Networks02:26

Protein Networks

An organism can have thousands of different proteins, and these proteins must cooperate to ensure the health of an organism. Proteins bind to other proteins and form complexes to carry out their functions. Many proteins interact with multiple other proteins creating a complex network of protein interactions.
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...
4.6K